Is That "New" Hard Drive Really New? Scam Alert from Seagate
Going to buy that shiny new Seagate hard drive Hold up. A new type of scam has surfaced that could get you a used drive posing as brand new. German tech magazine Heise.de uncovered a sneaky fraud tactic in use. It is one that all PC builders and technology enthusiasts should know about.
The Data Deception: How They're Trickning the System
Savvy buyers have long known how to identify if a hard drive is indeed new. They check its running time in the SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) system and compare them with FARM (Field Accessible Reliability Metrics) statistics. FARM metrics were previously regarded as a reliable second opinion. But, with each provision of security, fraudsters seek ways to bypass it.
These scammers have even learned to manipulate the FARM data itself. They are re-writing history on these used drives. This makes it that much harder to detect a fake from the real deal. Imagine this: you buy what you think is a brand-new-out-of-the-box drive, only to discover – perhaps too late – that it has already accumulated an incredible 22,000 hours of use. This only shows up with sophisticated tools that dig deeper than standard checks.
Beyond SMART: How to Spot a Fake
Well, if SMART and FARM are no longer genie keepers, how do you protect yourself Experts say that there are a couple of different methods to try to find a fake drive:
- Listen Carefully: Examine the Drive Heads. Advanced examination of the individual read/write heads may at times expose the actual operating history of the drive, even if other information is faked. This is a more technical method, but perhaps very enlightening.
- Check the Birthday: Date of Production Matters. New hard drives are not just collecting dust on the shelves for years. If the production date is more than six months prior to when it was sold, something is fishy. Actual "new" inventory should be pretty current.
- Inspect the Packaging: Sticker Shock (or Lack Thereof). Look for the original Seagate sticker. The sticker contains the serial number and the barcode. A defaced or missing sticker is a red flag.
The Source of the Problem: Chia Mining Farms
Where are these used drives coming from Investigations point to Chinese farms that were heavily engaged in Chia cryptocurrency mining. Once profit in Chia mining went down, these farms were left sitting on enormous stores of old hard drives. These drives had between 15,000 to an astonishing 50,000 hours already racked up on them. Instead of properly scrapping them or passing them on to buyers used, some are going into the system again as "new" through such scamming schemes.
Seagate Responds, But Still Lurking Danger
Seagate is aware that there is this issue and has even initiated its own investigation. They have also made authentication tools available so others can authenticate drives. Even so, the problem is significant enough that certified Seagate partners themselves have unwittingly sold these counterfeit "new" drives. Vulnerabilities in the entire supply chain have been revealed.
Your Best Defense: Buy Smart, Buy Safe
Seagate's advice is simple: buy only from authorized distributors. Even this is not a 100% solution, but it reduces your risk significantly. Further, beware of any terminology that defines a drive as "re-certified." While re-certified drives are not inherently bad, they should be sold and marketed accordingly, not as new units.
In today's market, a little extra caution can protect you from a costly and infuriating scam. Educate yourself, read carefully, and buy from reputable sources to protect yourself from this hard drive scam.
